Celebration Day [2CD/Blu-Ray] (CD)

Led Zeppelin

Amoeba Review

11/18/2012

How does this sound so good? Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones reunite in 2007 for a tribute concert to the late, legendary music executive Ahmet Ertegün, their first full-length show together since 1980, when drummer John Bonham died. Together with Bonham’s son, Jason, Led Zeppelin tear through their catalog as both the seasoned veterans they are and with the ferocity of a band decades younger. With the exception of Plant’s vocals, which are strong but understandably more restrained than their wild young versions, this could have been recorded in 1977. The band performs songs from across their career on Celebration, not wimping out by relying only on hits or avoiding songs like “Black Dog,” which particularly hard and nastily — Page just destroys it. “No Quarter” similarly snarls with nocturnal power, as Plant soars his vocals overhead while the audience adds subtle atmosphere to a song that’s already dripping with it. Bonham proves his dad proud on an extended take on “Dazed and Confused” — no easy feat, as it’s one of the great rock ’n’ roll drum songs of all time. With mixing work by Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, The Smashing Pumpkins), everything sounds remarkably full for a live recording. It’s rare that a reunion sounds so impassioned, and for one as anticipated as that of Led Zeppelin (and as sadly short-lived), this has got to be nearly as good as having been there. (The deluxe edition includes bonus rehearsal video and BBC footage. A triple-LP vinyl version will be released on Dec. 10.)